Question.
Recently you have taken charge as the head of government Organisation. On the very first day in your office, you observe that the organization is Crippled with many irregularities such as:
i. The staff is not punctual.
ii. The staff wastes their time in unnecessary talks.
iii. Speedy action is not taken on public grievances.
iv. There is rampant corruption at every level in the organization.
vi. The equality of the services provided by the organization is very poor.
How would you inspire your staff so that the above deficiencies of the organization get removed? Discuss.
( UPPSC, UP PCS Mains General Studies-4/Ethics 2018)
Answer.
In the above context, the following are available options to me as the head of a government organization.
First Option; No need to change anything:
As the head of a government organization, I have the option to not change any behaviors, and keep working as earlier.
The following will be positive Outcomes of this step:
- This will make all staff happy.
The following will be the negative outcomes of this step:
- The above-mentioned behaviors of staff like non-punctuality, unnecessary wastage of time by talking, rampant corruption, and poor quality of services; these behaviors are unethical in nature, and they are against the values of the organization like punctuality, efficiency, dedication, integrity, equality, accountability, transparency, etc.
- As a head of the organization, these behaviors of staff are unacceptable to me and these are also against my values also. It is my duty to ensure adherence to a high standard of ethical values and smooth functioning of the organization in the best interest of the public.
Second option: Take disciplinary action against all staff:
The positive outcome of this step:
- Being an organization head, my duty is to punish those involved in wrongdoing. It may force staff to work as per the organization's values.
Negative Outcome of this step:
- The conflict between self and staff may arise.
- It may further lead to a delay in public grievances.
- It is not sustainable in the long run.
Third option: My course of action:
I will not choose the first and second options due to the non-sustainability of the action. I will exercise the third option.
For the long run and sustainability of organizational values and as the head of the organization, the first thing I would do is to communicate my goal ( ensuring accountability, transparency, and quality of services in the organization) and expectations from all staff members, like adherence to high ethical and organizational values of punctuality, dedication, objectivity, transparency, integrity, accountability, and service value.
I would inspire them by setting an example and leading from the front. Here are a few steps that I would take to remove the deficiencies from the organization:
Focus on punctuality: As the head of the organization, it is my duty to be punctual and ensure the punctuality of the staff working in the organization. Formal communication will be made to all staff that from next month onward, there will be a biometric record of in and out of staff, and attendance and payroll will be made based on biometric records. I will ensure the full functioning of the biometric record for attendance and payroll processing.
Ensuring accountability: I would invest some money and time in making a computer system for providing quality services. This could include establishing a dedicated team to handle grievances, setting clear timelines for resolution, and implementing an online portal to track the status of complaints. I will personally review the quality of services provided by our staff to the public.
Training and development; To improve the quality of services provided by the organization, I would invest in training and development programs for the staff. This could include workshops on customer service, effective communication, and time management. This will help the staff to enhance their skills and knowledge, resulting in better service delivery.
Anti-Corruption Measures: To tackle the issue of rampant corruption, I would introduce anti-corruption measures such as regular audits, e-portal for grievances, or anonymous tip lines. This will help to create a culture of transparency and accountability within the organization.
Recognition and Rewards: I would create a culture of recognition and rewards to motivate the staff to perform their best. This could include regular appreciation for hard work, bonuses, and promotions for outstanding performance.
In conclusion, to remove the deficiencies in the organization, I would inspire the staff by setting a clear target, establishing accountability, investing in training and development, streamlining processes through the website, regularly auditing services, and creating a culture of recognition and rewards. These steps will help to transform the organization into a punctual, efficient, effective, and ethical entity that provides quality services to the public efficiently.
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